...wicked...

it was known oh, yes, it was
said with comma overemphasized and let it sit in the air
accusatory
that was me but not a me I typically hear from
and the third person walked in
beneath his suit trembling
at the accusation he made with a comma
the outside seemed to stop at the window
and turned in fear
away from the chips of cheap white paint
that collected for the last 14 months
in little piles
and with dust and with sunlight

he hadn't breathed
his hair stood on end
his eyes were expectant
not knowing it would not get his answer

and the radio blared with an insipid laundry soap commercial
but it too was tempered and low
the house was awaiting with the eyes

and the chair which sat the answer
was there with the house when it went up for rent
it smelled of must and dust
no matter what was done

he stared
his breath boring into the corner